The Los Angeles Dodgers have added an influx of talent this offseason, especially on the pitching front.
For a team that had as many injuries to their key arms as L.A. did last season, the Dodgers overcame these constant ailments and won the ultimate prize in the baseball world. The response since hoisting their eighth World Series trophy in franchise history has been completely revamping the roster.
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Cy Young award winners, All-Stars, international phenoms, and key pieces from last season have been added since October, but one of the best pitching talents was already been on the roster.
Shohei Ohtani won the National League MVP in his first of 10 seasons with the Dodgers as he also became the first-ever player in MLB history to slam 50 or more home runs and steal 50 or more bases in a season.
For those that don’t already know, he is also a formidable pitcher in addition to his offensive prowess.
As he missed the entirety of the 2024 season recovering from a Tommy John revision procedure, after undergoing his first Tommy John in 2018, Ohtani looks ready to return to the mound at some point early this season.
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Given the record-breaking offensive season, recovery from the surgery had virtually no impact on his offense — but manager Dave Roberts claimed that when Ohtani comes back to the rotation, he will have a seamless transition.
“I think the velocity will be there, he’ll have a feel for his pitches,” Roberts said. “I’ve really never seen anyone as competitive as Shohei, so I would expect him to be the same pitcher, as he’s expecting himself to be the pitcher he was when he was healthy.”
His competitive edge and athletic brilliance are just a few things that make Ohtani truly unbelievable.
Since first arriving to the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, Ohtani has pitched five seasons with a total ERA of 3.01. Over his 481.2 innings pitched, he has hurled 608 strikeouts to only 173 walks with a career WHIP of 1.061.
If the Dodgers get that same pitcher in 2025, their rotation will truly be unstoppable.
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Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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